Bossier School System Denies Wrongdoing in Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Bossier Parish Schools was named in several lawsuits related to a former teacher who is accused of raping and sexually assaulting several students. Aubrey Norcross, a former teacher and coach at Benton Elementary, was arrested earlier this year on numerous charges including 1st degree rape of a minor. Following his arrest, several lawsuits were filed against Norcross and Bossier Parish Schools.

Bossier Parish Schools is accused of having administrators who didn't investigate Norcross' alleged behavior or have officials at the school trained in recognizing signs of abuse. One suit, filed by the parents of a 9 year old girl, says that the lack of action by the school system led to Norcross being able to carry out the heinous sex crimes he's accused of. The suit went on to say that the school district failed to carry out their duty in protecting students from the likes of a sexual predator.

In a filing with Bossier Parish District Court on Friday, school officials, through their lawyer, said the following:

Aubrey Norcross was not acting in the course and scope of his employment with the School Board relative to the conduct attributed to him. None of the actions ... were connected in any way with his former employment with the School Board.

The System also denied specific allegations that employees are not trained to recognize abuse, that the school system failed to investigate Norcross when signs of abuse occurred and that they were negligent in their duty to protect students.

According to Bossier DA Schuyler Marvin, Norcross allegedly had sexual intercourse with a 5 year old boy, inappropriately touched several other and illegally recorded at least one child. All the victims, boys and girls, of Norcross' alleged actions are under the age of 11. It is said that all the alleged sexual attacks happened on the Benton Elementary school campus, with the exception of one that allegedly happened at Norcross' home.

Norcross is under indictment on one count of first-degree rape, eight counts of child molestation, two counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile and video voyeurism. He plead not guilty to all the charges.